Diver&#39;s helmet.



H. sTf-:LzN'x-:R DIVERS- HELMET. APPLICATION FILED AUGEZZ. 1912.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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Attorney,

' UNrrED sTAtrEs PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN s'rELzNEE, or LBECK, GERMANY, AssIeNoE'ro THE EIEM` oF :DEGfEE-4 WERK, REINE; & BERNE.- DRfGER, 0F LBECK, GERMANY nivEEfs HELMET.

Tocll whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN STELZNEE, a subjectof the Emperor of Germany, residing at 3 Uhlandstrasse, Lbeck, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsl in Divers Hellmets, of which the following is a specification.

The helmets hitherto employed for diving apparatus are formed of a rigid materlal such as metal. The helmet is so far as I am aware ixed asa separately closing part on the air-tight dress of the apparatus in such a manner that the interior'of the costume is spatially connected with the helmet. This arrangement has given rise to accidents, the cause of which vhas hithertobeen inexplicable. If the diver is working at a depth of 5 meters under water, the pressure prevailing around him is one and a half atmospheres, and this applies equally to the interior of the helmet and the dress. if it should happen that the diver suddenly sinks considerablyv deeper, for example if when working on a ladder he should fall therefrom or if when walking on the sea bottom he should fall into a depression, the pressure is proportionately increased. For example, if he has fallen from'a depth of 5 meters to a depth of 10 meters, the pressure surrounding him increases from 1% atmospheres to 2 atmospheres and correspondingly the air contained inthe dress and in the helmet will be compressed to the extent of one quarter its previous volume. If the dress is exhaustedof air, as only the `air contained in the helmet is present,

the body is forced into the helmet and the trunk pressed vigorously against the lower edge of the helmet without 'the pressure prevailing in the helmet being-considerably increased. The result of this is that the blood in the lbody exposed to the increased pressure is forced toward the head; in the case of small dii'erences of pressure fainting lits and other diHculties or injuries will be occasioned while death may result from greater differences of pressure. Even when air is containedin the diving dress, the same result may arise if equalization of pressure between the dress and the helmet is prevented or impeded owing to the fact that the clothing of the diver, his neck cloth or the like constitutes apacking for the helmet to a greater or less extent. Consequently, al-

Now v S-peoication of Letters Patent. l Patented NOV 2, 1915. lApplifation med August 22, 19121 serial No. 716,476.

though when the diving dress is filled with' air accldents of the kind-indicated occur less frequently, still they are not impossible,- especlally when the alteration in the pressure arises very suddenly. Compensation between the pressure of the air in the dress and in the helmet does not take place immediately even when the inlet to the helmet is not completely closed and frequently a very short perlod of time is sufficient to cause the death ofa man in the case of congestion of the blood.

1f In accordance with the present invention these defects are avoided owing to the fact that the helmet is made of pliable or resilient materlal, such as rubber, fabric or the like. Preferably the helmet is formed from the same materlal as the dress. The increased pressure arising in the case of a fall in this case also produces a compression of the inclosed air to the extent of a` quarter in the example selected. The pressure does not, however, act only upon the trunk and limbs but also upon the head, so that thev blood cannotrise 'to the head, but equilibrium is 80 produced throughout the entire body so that l perforated casing inclosing helme The helmet 'a is prepared from a pliable or resilient material like the dress b to which it is xed over the shoulders, with which ob- ]eCt the two parts may comprise stiff edges c and d. The sleeves e can be Closed over the wrists in the known manner nand pro? vided with resilient packing rolls or beadings f in order to insure perfect'freedom of movement forthe hands at Work. If desired, however, gloves can be provided.

When the helmet is made of elastic mate` rial, it may advantageously be provided with 100 a special insertion or covering of consider-- able tensile strength in order that it may afford a certain resistance to excessive internal pressures. On leaving the water the quantity of air contained in the dress expands and if the diver should leave the water too suddenly or if a sulicient quanitty of air is not discharged at' once, very considerable ,differences of tension arise.

If desired the pliable or elastic helmet can be surrounded by a stii but perforated strength and a perforated casing inclosing 10 'helmet g or a rigid sievelike casket or the the said helmet and formed of rigid matelikg in order to protect the head of the rial. Y wearer from external influences, blows and 1n testimony whereof l affix my signature so forth. in presence of two Witnesses. What I claim and desire to secure by Let- HERMANN STELZNER. ters Patent of the United States is Witnesses:

A. dvers helmet constructed of flexible OSCAR SCHWINDLER,

Water-proof material of considerable tensile JOHN .WULR 

